British and Irish Lions 2013: Dylan Hartley set to miss tour after swearing at referee in Premiership final

Dylan Hartley’s hopes of making the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia
depend on the outcome of a hastily arranged Rugby Football Union
disciplinary hearing, after being sent off for verbally abusing referee
Wayne Barnes during Northampton’s Aviva Premiership final defeat by
Leicester.

The England player was given his marching orders in the final minute of the first half of the 37-17 loss at Twickenham, after allegedly calling the English official a cheat. Hartley appeared incensed by decisions taken by Barnes in the closing moments of the half when first Stephen Myler wrongly kicked the ball into touch from a 22 drop out, before Saints were penalised at a scrum in front of their own posts.

Hartley had been warned about his language by Barnes two minutes before his dismissal. The referee was heard saying: “Please keep your comments to yourself or I may have to deal with it. Do not talk to me like that.”

However, Hartley was then dismissed for allegedly calling the official a “f------ cheat” when the Saints buckled under pressure from the Leicester front five.

Afterwards, Hartley insisted, via Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder, that his comments were aimed at Leicester hooker Tom Youngs, not the referee.

The RFU disciplinary officer, Judge Jeff Blackett, will examine the evidence. The penalty for verbally abusing a match official ranges from a six-week to 52-week ban. A ban, even at the lower entry, would see Hartley withdrawn from Gatland’s 37-man Lions party, who leave for Hong Kong today. They play their first game, against the Barbarians, on Saturday. A Lions spokesman said: “The coaches and the team regather tomorrow. There will be an assessment of the situation – it is out of our hands.

“Warren Gatland has always indicated that these players [competing in Premiership and Pro 12 finals] would not play in the first match against the Barbarians but they would have to be available for the second match of the tour. That is the criteria for Hartley coming on tour. If he gets a suspension that prevents him from making that second game then that is where we are.”

If he is ruled out, Gatland is likely to bring in Ireland’s Rory Best.

After the game, Mallinder said: “It was a massive decision. I’ve spoken to Dylan and he said he’s talking to Tom Youngs on the floor, not the referee. The word 'cheat’ was mentioned, but he was talking to Tom Youngs.”

Hartley’s red card was not the only controversy. A tackle from Courtney Lawes on Toby Flood in the first half left the England outside half flat out for five minutes and led to Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill berating the officials for not issuing a yellow card.

At half-time, Northampton assistant coach Dorian West told ESPN: “We’ve had a few problems. Richard Cockerill has been intimidating officials all through the half. It’s embarrassing but that’s where we are.”

After the game, Cockerill said: “I’m down there because I have got my player being hit late. They have been penalised and they are calling for the spinal board. I am asking why it hasn’t gone to the TMO, I’m not intimidating anybody.

“There’s a bloke that’s concussed there in the biggest game of the season and he has to leave the field. He’s our main playmaker. It’s embarrassing that you come to a Grand Final and Saints behave like that. They had 14 men because they said abusive words to the referee, if I am correct in thinking that. Is that embarrassing?”